LEVI, Finland (AP) – It took Austria’s Marcel Hirscher just two races to get back to where he finished each of the past five seasons – on top of the men’s World Cup overall standings.
Hirscher overcame an illness on the eve of the slalom opener on Sunday to lead teammate Michael Matt for an Austrian 1-2 finish.
The five-time overall champion finished a huge 1.30 seconds ahead of Matt to clinch his 40th career win. It was the first Austrian 1-2 finish in a World Cup slalom since Hirscher beat Michael Matt’s older brother, Mario, at the same venue three years ago.
Manfred Moelgg of Italy was 1.31 seconds back in third for his first podium finish in nearly three years, while Germany’s Felix Neureuther came another 0.10 further behind in fourth.
“Physically it went very well. I have no pains. Yesterday it was really bad but this morning I knew it would work out,” said Hirscher, who suffered from an inflammation of the middle ear.